“Dr. Fritz Kahlenberg, of Guy’s Hospital, said that when the father was told that an operation was necessary he demurred for some time, but eventually gave his consent. The witness thought doctors should be able to operate if it was absolutely necessary without waiting for consent. Time was everything in many cases, and if consent had first to be obtained a life might be sacrificed. At Guy’s Hospital they endeavoured to get the parents’ consent, and, failing the parents, the nearest of kin. Some ignorant people had an idea that an operation was an experiment, made for the doctors’ amusement. In this case the operation was performed at night, and the surgeons were engaged until five in the morning. “Asked by the coroner whether he had any suggestion to make, Dr. Kahlenberg said he thought that in such cases it should be enough if two or three doctors agreed on the necessity of an operation. “The Coroner said that perhaps some members of Parliament would take the matter up. Dr. Kahlenberg, he observed, was suggesting a very serious change in the law. “The inquiry was adjourned to enable the father to find witnesses of his son’s accident.” APPENDIX C THE ROYAL MARRIAGES ACT, 1772 12 Geo. 3, c. 11 _An Act for the better regulating of the future Marriages of the Royal Family_ MOST GRACIOUS SOVEREIGN, Whereas your Majesty, from paternal affection to your own family, and from your royal concern for the future welfare of your people, and the honour and dignity of your crown, was graciously pleased to recommend to your Parliament to take into their serious consideration, whether it might not be wise and expedient to supply the defect of the laws now in being, and by some new provision more effectually to guard the descendants of his late Majesty King George the Second (other than the issue of princesses who have married, or who may hereafter marry, into foreign families), from marrying without the approbation of your Majesty, your heirs and successors, first had and obtained, we have taken this weighty matter into our serious consideration; and being sensible that marriages in the royal family are of the highest importance to the state, and that therefore the kings of this realm have ever been entrusted with the care and approbation thereof, and being thoroughly convinced of the wisdom and expediency of what your Majesty has thought fit to recommend upon this occasion; we, your Majesty’s most dutiful and loyal subjects, the lords spiritual and temporal, and commons, in this present Parliament assembled, do humbly beseech your Majesty that it may be enacted and be it enacted, etc.